I have just the workbook. You don't really need the textbook.

I do love their phonics. We used their advanced K phonics and the Handbook for Reading last year and am using the K4 readers with my second DD now. It is such a thorough program.

We used A Beka for K and use only the math for first grade. A student who has finished A Beka first grade phonics may not need any further phonics and most certainly could just read real books for reading/literature. So that would be my suggestion: real books!

Ellie is correct. R&S is definitely open and go, to the point I'm confident my first grader doing R&S 2 could read the lesson herself and know what to do. As far as the grammar being boring, let me speak from my experiences teaching grammar in Christian schools: once a kid has a good handle on grammar, it is a bit boring because there are typically few new concepts introduced each year. However, the repetition of the concepts each year is essential to long-term retention and application to one's own writing. Your DD is likely to find most grammar programs "boring." Make sure you don't express negativity toward the curriculum, and your DD's less likely to complain.

I use videos (Denise Austin, Leslie Sansone) for cardio and conditioning. Maybe that's goofy, but I enjoy it and can do it while the kids play around me. (Sometimes I end up with a toddler twin *on* me if I'm doing ab work on the floor!) My rheumatologist told me I have to work out daily to control my fibromyalgia. My pain is almost nonexistent when I stick to my routine. Unfortunately I got out of the habit for a few weeks and am now having a bad flare up of pain, fatigue, and "fibro fog". Yesterday I made myself workout and I am recommittng to my routine of 5+ days. The benefits of working out, for me, are, obviously, pain management, a sense of accomplishment, and the relief of doing something for me during the busy day.

I think it depends on your original reasons for homeschooling. If you homeschool for philosophical reasons, don't compromise. If you do it for academic reasons, then maybe going to school would be the better option. I would write out the goals you have for your child and how homeschooling v.school compare in meeting the goals. I think educational choices should be made with the long term in mind. Choose whichever option will be best in the long run. As a classroom teacher, I have my doubts that ps will motivate. Plenty of teachers are content to let unmotivated students continue down a path of laziness. Also, in school there will be quite a few distractions from academics: cliques, boys, activities.

I'm using R&S English 2 with my first grader (who is a solid reader). I have no doubt she could do the lessons on her own. I just enjoy doing them with her because I love the book so much. It's hands down the best grammar program I've seen in 12 years of teaching grammar in schools.

Oops! Double post.

It is illegal to copy those workbooks. The publisher already makes so little off them: just buy new ones for the next child.

I had to take one of my kids to the ER today and was asked if we'd traveled abroad in the last 21 days.

For now, my kids have church friends that they see on Sunday and Wednesday, plus my oldest was just in a play and made some friends through that. I don't really feel a need for get-togethers outside of church and the occasional birthday party right now. My girls are each others' best friends. Eventually, when finances permit, we'll do ballet or soccer to broaden their circle, but I think having siblings to play with and fight with is a good start at socialization.

The same attitude exists about raising multiples. When I was pregnant with my twins I was told I just "had" to join a mothers-of-multiples group. Two years in, I'm doing just fine without one because *gasp* twins are just like any other kids out there. With the plethora of parenting books, talk of "parenting styles," etc., it's as though moms can't be trusted to make their own decisions anymore.

I don't have any advice, but that letter is the cutest thing!

MCT and The Writer's Jungle. Sometimes I do buy curriculum I don't actually need and justify it by telling myself that, as a certified teacher, I need to keep up my own skills/knowledge. So, maybe I'll use my Christmas money on some Bravewriter stuff.

I can't post links from my phone, but there is a long thread about it. It was written by 8FilltheHeart, one of the forum's most experienced moms. I think her website is treasuredconversations.com. There are samples on the site. The book begins with grammar, but it's grammar in the context of composition. She uses an approach that she calls scaffolding to teach students to structure first solid sentences and then paragraphs. The student is weaned off the scaffolding so that they can eventually compose their own work. What I love about 8's approach, as opposed to IEW, is that she really seems to help students with diction and sentence structure so that he will naturally write solid sentences. IEW teaches kids to add a prep. phrase, an adverb, a participle, and a few more sentence openers plus what they call dress-ups to every paragraph. In my opinion, it is artificial style. The IEW TWSS actually refers to style being sprinkled in. But as a writing teacher, I believe the exact opposite (and so do Strunk and White!).

As a former writing prof, I recommend SWB's series above IEW. I know many people feel IEW has improved their children's writing, but I would much rather a student develop his own style organically rather than being required to use the openers and dressups that IEW teaches. From what I've seen of Treasured Conversations, it looks like a perfect bridge between WWE and WWS; I can't imagine a better approach to teaching style. The last few years I taught in a high school that suggested we try to use at least some of IEW's TWSS. I really could not in good conscience incorporate much because I felt I would be hindering my students when it comes to academic writing. (I have my own approach based on the college courses I've taught.) Some of the models in IEW just won't be appropriate in college courses.

Hooked on Phonics readers would work. Primary Phonics books are really good. I love that they have actual plots with conflict--much more engaging than most early readers. I haven't used MP's phonics, but from what I've gathered, it's not as thorough as OPG.

We have a short Morning Time at breakfast in which I read a Bible story and a picture book or chapter from a novel. We also practice memory verses for church and work on a hymn and Latin. These are things that would fall through the cracks if we didn't do them first thing. We just read the D'Aulaires' Pocahontas and one of my toddlers has been picking up the book, saying, "Hontas, Hontas!" It's rewarding to see even the littles picking something up from this family time.

You will love R&S. I've taught grammar in grades 7-12 and to college freshman, and I am blown away by R&S. I've never seen such a clear connection made between writing and grammar.

I think honest posts about life's struggles can be edifying if done in the right way. I have written a few posts for my blog about miscarriage. These are deeply personal posts that definitely made me feel vulnerable when I hit "publish," but the feedback I've gotten has been all positive. I don't get to blog often, but my purpose is usually to make people think, whether it's about parenting, education, or theology.

She could always watch episodes of Saved by the Bell or Boy Meets World. Just kidding . . . Sort of.

There certainly are truly thought-provoking blogs out there, but the ones I'm familiar with are about social issues or theology. The problem is, of course, that anyone can start a blog and set herself up as an expert. It's disappointing to me that more mommy bloggers aren't more critical in their thinking. I have a major theological disagreement with a particular education book, but I've been hard-pressed to find any blogs pointing out the flaws of the author. I'm talking about an issue foundational to Christianity, not a good-Christians-on-both-sides kind of thing. I'm not about to take education advise from someone who apparently can't see beyond methods into the philosophy of an educational style.

I personally found some of the posts to lack theological and intellectual astuteness, so I was not really into the blog. Nonetheless, I think the idea of the blog was good and assumed they'd have a big following.

I just read on their site that the blog isn't a blog anymore but will have links to the writers' individual blogs. They referenced a readers' survey that apparently led to this decision. So, does this mean their project failed somehow? It just struck me as odd since the "sisters" seemed to be Cindy Rollins "heirs." I didn't read their blog posts often, but I don't see why they'd basically abandon their project. What's up?

No. A fourth grader should be doing some original writing. Have you looked at Treasured Conversations?